Hannah – 6 Months

Stats

Weight: 16 lbs, 6 oz.
Height: 26 inches
Diaper Size: Size 2 in Huggies
Clothes: Some 6-month dresses, mostly 9-month outfits. 9-month sleepers.

I have a 6-month old that can still wear 6-month clothes?! L.J. wearing 12-month outfits at 6 months. While we still often refer to her as “Peanut,” Miss Hannah has been undergoing quite a growth spurt. She’s sporting some delicious new rolls and adorably chunky cheeks. Everyone comments on her beautiful dimples and notes they are identical to mine.

Personality

Hannah is sweet and cuddly. Most of the time she is a ray of sunshine, full of smiles and happy baby chatter. We can’t get enough of her happy little self! She is not quite as “go with the flow” as L.J. was as a baby. She can be opinionated and will not hesitate to squawk at you if she is displeased about something.

She wants to be part of everything. We brought out the highchair last week and she loves being at the same height as everyone else! She contentedly sits there and plays with her toys while I clean up or fix a meal.

She likes having a set schedule and routine. For example, she wants her 7:30 bottle even if she ate just a short while before.

No sign of teeth yet, though she is definitely teething. She constantly gnaws on Sophie and drools like a Saint Bernard.

Playtime

It’s been a fun month for playtime! Hannah is very interested in her toys and everything she touches goes straight into her mouth for exploring. She continues to enjoy both her playmats, and has gotten a lot of use out of her activity jumper this month.

Developmentally, she can track toys, transfer between hands, reach for and rake in a toy and pick up a toy and bring it to her mouth.

She can roll over back-to-tummy and tummy-to-back both sides and also turn herself around in a circle.

She transitioned from “ragdoll” to almost sitting independently! She can sit up by herself for brief periods. Hannah has excellent leg strength and likes to stand up on our laps.

Last week we packed up the swing. Saying goodbye to such a hallmark of young infancy wasn’t quite as bittersweet as I thought it would be. Lest you think I am not sentimental, I can’t even entertain the thought of getting rid of her beloved blue bounce seat even though she rarely uses it anymore.

Eating

The transition to Enfamil Gentlease was a success! She’s doing really well on it and we’re enjoying the cost savings – win for everyone.

She still spits up a lot. It’s supposed to abate around 6 months, but we have yet to see any indication of that. Hannah is quite an expert at letting you let your guard down just enough before surprising you with a giant mess.

We started food this month! She does not understand that she doesn’t have teeth, and is currently under the impression that if she stares at our dinner plates long and hard enough, the food will magically apparate into her hands. As such, I found some dissolvable teething biscuits to entertain her at dinner. I was thrilled to find some geared towards brand-new eaters, but I’m pretty sure I spent $5 on organic air.

My current dilemma (if you will) is organic or non-organic food for Hannah. With her being a girl and different hormones and such – is organic really necessary? I have no clue. Right now I’m doing a bit of both.

She has had:

• Oatmeal – Meh
• Rice Cereal – Loves
• Bananas – Likes
• Applesauce – Loves
• Pears – Loves
• Sweet Potatoes – Likes
• Peas – Likes
• Green Beans – Never wants to see them again

She also had a few licks of frozen yogurt while we were in Hilton Head and some mashed potatoes the other night. She was an enormous fan of both. Something tells me she isn’t going to put up with purees for very long…

She now eats 5-6 ounces at a sitting and still doesn’t go more than 2.5-3 hours between feeds. See aforementioned pudginess. Sister Bear likes to eat!

Sleeping

On the weekends she typically takes a long morning and afternoon nap. Yay!

She is fully into her crib (finally!!) and doing just fine with it. (Of course she is. We all knew I was the one with the attachment problem!) She sleeps on her stomach, often with her bum in the air. It’s as cute as can be.

She is so particular about her bedtime routine. She goes to bed at the same time every night, and when it’s time for bed, she wants to be put into her crib and left alone. No rocking, snuggles, bedtime songs, etc. It’s rather odd given this is the same child that flat refused to be put down for her first 10 weeks, but we certainly aren’t complaining about the ease of it!

We are starting to phase out the 10 p.m. feeding. She’s had a few nights where she’s gone from 7:30 p.m. until 5 or 6 a.m. but it’s still hit or miss.

Milestones/Firsts

First two trips to CHOA this month – one for a pneumonia x-ray and one for an ER visit related to her upper respiratory infection.

First “fear” – At her 6-mo appointment she gave everyone at the doctor’s office the side eye until she was confident they were not going to put a pulse-ox monitor on her foot. She also screamed her head off when the doctor laid her down and pulled out her stethoscope. Sweet baby was poked and prodded too much when she was under the weather.

First beach vacation!! We had a great time in Hilton Head! Hannah loved the pool.

First foods and first sweet treat (fro-yo at the beach).

Letter to Hannah

Dear Hannah,

How have we already reached your half birthday?! It truly does not seem possible that six months have already passed. I look back wistfully at photos of you as a tiny little squish, but then look at you now and love this phase even more. With L.J., I called it the ‘age of discovery’ and it really is true. Like your brother, you have an insatiable curiosity about the world around you. Everything is new and exciting and you don’t want to miss a minute of it!

I wish I could bottle up memories that can’t be captured by a photograph, such as the way you look around the dinner table when we eat. You stare, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, at our plates, so eager to have a plate and fork of your own! The beautiful spark of life always present in your eyes. The hilarious infant version of the eye-roll you give L.J. when you think he is being annoying. Yet…you light up as soon as he comes into view. Still, still your heartiest laughs are reserved exclusively for your brother. May you always be each other’s champions.

All I have to do is catch your eye to be rewarded with one of your gorgeous dimpled smiles. That most especially – the recognition in your eyes and smile on your face that lets me know you know I’m your mommy – that’s a memory I never want to lose.

Sitting with friends the other evening, preparing for the wedding of a dear friend, the question was asked, “What is your greatest accomplishment?” My answer without hesitation was, of course, “my children.” Landon and Hannah. How I love you both!

Thank you for the joy you have given me during my first six months of loving you!

Love,
Mommy